Over the winter, a friend and I tried to outdo each other with the weather. It was a perfect back and forth for on a Monday we got a foot of snow, on Tuesday he got a foot of snow, and on Wednesday I got a foot of snow. It was a race to the bottom and by April you could have stuck a fork in us, we were done. During one of those talks…

A stitch in time saves nine, goes the saying, and those true words popped into my mind a few decades ago. I had pulled over into a rest area because my trailer tire had a flat. Not a problem, I thought, for I had everything I needed to fix the flat. So I put the truck in gear, applied the emergency brake, chocked the tires and got after it. I’d be splashing at the ramp…

If I think long and hard enough I can remember buying my first boat. I prefer not to think of it ‘cause it makes me feel old. That said, I do remember being far more interested in launching and running my boat than wanting to fill out the registration paperwork. Who wouldn’t be? A new boat is exciting, so here are a few pointers so you can be compliant with rules and regulations. You can knock these out in no…

We’re coming off what seems like an Endless Winter, with even traditionally tropical regions getting cold temperatures if not snow. Regardless, it’ll soon be spring and that means it’s time to get your boat ready for the water. Here are some check points to consider. De-winterize your engine. Issues with oil are a leading culprit of engine problems, so start there. If you didn’t winterize your boat, change your engine oil, your filter, and…

My non-fishing friends (which are few and far between I might add), shake their heads when they look at my side yard. They’ll see my Maritime Skiff center console that I use for fishing. I bought it new 20 years ago, and it’s been worth every penny. Next to the skiff is my duck boat, and I got it used about 15 years ago. Next to the power boats is a Hobie Cat that my…

Now that the Polar Vortex is in our rearview mirror, it’s time to give your boat a once over to make sure that the cold temperatures, high winds, snow, and ice hasn’t created problems. A thorough check this time of the year won’t take long, but if problems aren’t detected now then they might create issues later on. A stitch in time so the saying goes…. 1. Boats in the water need the most attention.…

Drastic measures call for drastic means. When your boat’s steering cable goes down for the count you’ve got to figure out a way to get back in. Make a drogue. Drogues are commonly known as sea anchors designed to slow a boat. If they’re moved from side to side, drogues can change a boat’s course. While a traditional drogue is made from canvas and is hung off a boat transom on a bridle, you…

It’s tempting not to wear a life jacket while fishing or boating, especially on nice days. You want to get some sun, or you think you’ll get too hot. But whether you’re going fishing or just enjoying a ride on the boat, there’s never an excuse not to wear a life jacket. You can have a great time, even when wearing a life jacket. At the National Safe Boating Council, we believe life jacket wear…

Take Me Fishing blogger Tom Keer recently reported on the pelagic bite. (“Pelagic” means, “go start the boat; you can’t catch those from shore.) Unlike inshore fishing, where structure and weeds are a fishing gold mine… No place is more starved for fish structure than the pelagic ocean. It is wide open and featureless. Just. Water. What direction should you point the boat? Where should you start fishing? Well, birds are a great visual of…

If September 21st is the actual first day of fall, Labor Day is viewed as the end of summer. Think about it. Kids go back to school (if they’re not back already), vacations have become memories, and work takes on an air of seriousness that makes us all shudder. Labor Day signals the end of the carefree days of summer that we have enjoyed for the past few months and it is bittersweet indeed. We…